Which is a long way of explaining why the Seahawks general manager gave "Housh" (it'll take me the rest of my career to spell it right) $15 million in guaranteed money -- up to $40 million if all goes perfectly -- for a receiver who will not be confused with Larry Fitzgerald.

It's more money than any other team wanted to give him, which is how free agency is supposed to work: Those in greatest need pay the most.

Aside from the absurdity of the numbers in a real world nearing economic crackup, few figured the Seahawks were sufficiently desperate to part with such treasure.

That's what a 4-12 record will do.

It makes a team sufficiently anxiety-ridden to part with Bobby Engram, the reliable, popular wideout who ranks fifth in club history in receptions, fourth in yards and seventh in receiving touchdowns. A 36-year-old free agent, Engram was on a recruiting trip to Kansas City this week, apparently having seen the handwriting in Seattle, although the wall had to be large to accommodate the new guy.

Ah, well. Housh is five years younger, 4 inches taller and a little better downfield blocker. And if he's willing to be Mr. Third Down as was Engram, taking over-the-middle licks and blind-side whacks from large, unpleasant men to hear the tinkling of chains, he's entitled to reap the marketplace.

"We did a lot of short passing" in Cincinnati, Housh said of his employer the previous eight years. "We went down the field. I think I fit into any offense. I could play in a triple option if they needed me to. So I think I'll be fine."

Aside from tight end, the slot receiver who specializes in third downs gets the most punishment among receivers, which is why the durability of Engram at 5 feet 10 inches and 190 pounds was so remarkable. He missed only three games last season, which, in the Seahawks crowd he ran with, made him Gibraltar.

Anybody remember Billy McMullen and Keary Colbert? Didn't think so. They were the temps hired to fill in at wide receiver when the position turned into a trailer park after a tornado. Compared with them, former reprobate Koren Robinson (31 catches, 400 yards) was, in terms of production, Steve Largent.

"T.J. is known as one of the finest route runners in the NFL," said Mora, clearly pleased that his bosses went bold with the first major hiring opportunity of the offseason. "Speaking specifically about third down, he's a very difficult matchup. He's going to win those 50-50 balls."

Coupled with the earlier filling of another team void, designated defensive fat guy, by signing Colin Cole from Green Bay, the Seahawks had themselves an unexpectedly productive first week in free agency.

It's a maxim of pro sports in Seattle that to compete well, teams must overpay in free agency to counter the gripe about Seattle's distance from the rest of the world. This business of Seattle's being a little beyond Jupiter is a trifle oversold, unless you are 350 pounds and stuck in an airplane seat for six hours to get home in time to see your daughter sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in the school play.

So besides the big effort to get Housh in the house, the Seahawks gave Cole $21 million over five years, despite his having been a backup for nearly all of his time with the Packers.

That's the market reality for the moment in Seattle, one even Ruskell admitted he had a hard time forecasting.

"Free agency is a funny thing," he said. "Everybody has a plan before it starts. Sometimes those plans change, and you just follow that line and see where it leads. I could probably put that plan away and say, 'Well, we didn't have it quite that way,' but we're happy."

The plan to wade slowly into free agency apparently was no match for the unplanned plunge to 4-12. Desperation makes every decision a 50-50 ball.